[coldM2]

Been quite unhappy with the speakers in my car. Compared to my previous 340i which also had Harman Kardon speakers the sound is much lower in my M2. On the 340i I could have the volume up to 40% and it would be pretty loud. In my M2 on the other hand I usually put it up to 50% and that would be like having it at 20-25% in my previous 340i. Ive asked some other people and for them the sound is pretty low on the M2 as well. To my question, how much can I safely turn the volume up to not overload and blast the speakers?

[HFW003]

Up to 11!

[boostm3]

Originally Posted by coldM2

Been quite unhappy with the speakers in my car. Compared to my previous 340i which also had Harman Kardon speakers the sound is much lower in my M2. On the 340i I could have the volume up to 40% and it would be pretty loud. In my M2 on the other hand I usually put it up to 50% and that would be like having it at 20-25% in my previous 340i. Ive asked some other people and for them the sound is pretty low on the M2 as well. To my question, how much can I safely turn the volume up to not overload and blast the speakers?

Until the system starts distorting.

[coldM2]

damn

[DanG]

Get rid of ASD. Code it out or use the bypass harness.

[impulsiv]

My asd is off since day 1 and I also think that the sounds system sucks. Volume is low, and not enough treble.

[omasou]

Originally Posted by coldM2

Been quite unhappy with the speakers in my car. Compared to my previous 340i which also had Harman Kardon speakers the sound is much lower in my M2. On the 340i I could have the volume up to 40% and it would be pretty loud. In my M2 on the other hand I usually put it up to 50% and that would be like having it at 20-25% in my previous 340i. Ive asked some other people and for them the sound is pretty low on the M2 as well. To my question, how much can I safely turn the volume up to not overload and blast the speakers?

Are you streaming music over Bluetooth?

[SpartanGA]

Low means turn it up. Might as well use the entire volume range. Just because it’s not as loud at same volume level doesn’t make it poor.

I find much different results depending on source. CarPlay is very quiet vs Sirius.

Also. Use the tone controls and turn up the treble.

[M Fifty]

Someone who knows what they're talking about wrt car hifi will doubtless be along shortly, but I suspect the speakers aren't the problem? The amp however...

[boostm3]

Someone, move this to the audio section of the M2 technical forum.

[zenmaster]

BMW's changes which transform the 2-series into an M2 don't include anything related to audio or any entertainment electronics for that matter. It's a shame we all can't just use a common 2-series "Navigation, iDrive, Audio, Video, Bluetooth, Phone, Cameras, Electronics" forum for this topic as you'd have more visibility and discussion.

[coldM2]

Well, the volume loudness is pretty much the same in bluetooth mode or connected via USB port. I would very much like to turn the volume up close to maximum but I would not want to blow the speakers.. Compared to the 3-series H/K with "standard audio settings" the loudness is just waay too low..

[heavyD^2]

It is the first car I can remember where you have to turn the volume to 3/4 to overcome road noise and it's not because the car is overly noisy.

[ricko32]

I agree the sound quality with any input is not great. It will probably take more than a speaker upgrade.

[HFW003]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

It is the first car I can remember where you have to turn the volume to 3/4 to overcome road noise and it's not because the car is overly noisy.

Code out the volume bar

[coldM2]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

It is the first car I can remember where you have to turn the volume to 3/4 to overcome road noise and it's not because the car is overly noisy.

Is your volume at 75% of max while youre driving? Has your speakers become worse overtime?

[Anthony1s]

2-series has a different amp than the 3-series. 2er is 360 watts and 3er is 600w. Also 2 series is missing 4 speakers that the 3 series has in it's rear doors. Other than that, they appear to be the same... I checked part numbers on realoem.com as well.

https://www.harmankardon.com/bmw-2-series-coupe.html

https://www.harmankardon.com/bmw-3-series-sedan.html

Can you swap in the 600w amp into the m2? Would it be cheaper/better to go third party? I don't know. Someone else would have to answer that. Audio is my worst subject.

[twin fed]

I just swapped the amp for the BavSound unit and kept the stock HK speakers. I t definitely made a noticeable difference in loudness and sound quality.

[Picoschu]

Originally Posted by twin fed

I just swapped the amp for the BavSound unit and kept the stock HK speakers. I t definitely made a noticeable difference in loudness and sound quality.

Any more info on this? Where did you source the BavSound unit?

[twin fed]

Originally Posted by Picoschu

Any more info on this? Where did you source the BavSound unit?

Not Much more info that I can give, but check out the links. It was actually the bimmer-tech amp not the Bav Sound, sorry. It is a direct plug and play from the original HK amp in the trunk. I got a great deal on it from a forum member who was selling his car. But here is a link:

https://www.bimmer-tech.net/speakers...ifier-for-bmw/

and here is the BavSound for comparison

https://www.bavsound.com/BMW-Amplifier-Upgrade

[nioh_lbbm2]

Originally Posted by twin fed

Not Much more info that I can give, but check out the links. It was actually the bimmer-tech amp not the Bav Sound, sorry. It is a direct plug and play from the original HK amp in the trunk. I got a great deal on it from a forum member who was selling his car. But here is a link:

https://www.bimmer-tech.net/speakers...ifier-for-bmw/

and here is the BavSound for comparison

https://www.bavsound.com/BMW-Amplifier-Upgrade

Can you comment on how the sound quality improved? I'm interested in the amp only upgrade as well but you're the first I've seen who has done it with the stock HK speakers. All other people I've seen upgrade speakers to the Bavsound ones also

[GregoryK]

Originally Posted by coldM2

Been quite unhappy with the speakers in my car. Compared to my previous 340i which also had Harman Kardon speakers the sound is much lower in my M2. On the 340i I could have the volume up to 40% and it would be pretty loud. In my M2 on the other hand I usually put it up to 50% and that would be like having it at 20-25% in my previous 340i. Ive asked some other people and for them the sound is pretty low on the M2 as well. To my question, how much can I safely turn the volume up to not overload and blast the speakers?

If you want to drop $2k not including labor...

1 - upgrade to the matchBMW amp.
2 - replace all the front speaker except the middle one.
3 - Tune the amp to hardly use the middle speaker
4 - Replace the underseat subs with the 2 ohm earthquake subs ( these are not perfect but with 160 watts from that amp they go way lower than stock.
5 - If you want to drop another grand trunk sub and additional amp.

Hope this helps.